June 6/08 2:24 am - Just Giver for Parkinson's SuperCycle

Posted by Editoress on 06/6/08

Just Giver for Parkinson's SuperCycleCourtesy Adam Peron

Come out and join us for the 2008 Just Giver for Parkinson's SuperCycle, the first stage of a cycling tour dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Parkinson's Disease. The SuperCycle is a 100 kilometer group ride in Surrey, with a maximum of 150 riders, including special guests Alex Stieda and Axel Merckx. In addition to a great ride for a good cause, participants will also receive a Just Giver t-shirt, and extra water and energy bars for the ride, and will automatically be entered into a raffle for a chance to win some great prizes!

Kilometres: Four (4) laps of a 25-km course. Riders are free to ride less than four laps, allowing the following options: 25, 50, 75, or 100 kilometers to suit their fitness level.

Register/Contact/More Information:Go to www.just-giver.com

What is Just Giver?Just Giver started in 2006, when Kelly Jablonski and Branko Radimilovic rode 400 kilometers from Vancouver to Osoyoos to raise money for Parkinson's Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects 100,000 people nationwide, including a close family member of the Jablonski's. After raising $25,000 in the first year, Kelly and Branko doubled the distance for 2007, riding 850 kilometers from Vancouver to Cranbrook in eight days. Joined by ten other riders for the first stage and David Kosub and Rob Macdonald for the second, Kelly and Branko raised over $38,000 for Parkinson Society British Columbia (PSBC) and the U.S. based Davis Phinney Foundation. In total, Just Giver has raised $63,000 and has been the subject of a national news feature, the subject of a radio segment on CBC, and 17 newspaper articles, helping make a difference in the fight against the effects of Parkinson's on patients and their loved ones.

For 2008, Just Giver will be further expanding its fund-raising goals, scope, and participation. This time, the tour will consist of eight stages and six riders. The first stage will be a 100-kilometer century loop in Langley, with a maximum of 150 riders, called the Just Giver for Parkinson's SuperCycle. Having this first stage open to the general public will give more people a chance to get involved, spread awareness, and raise our fund-raising levels. Afterwards, a smaller, elite group of riders will continue on, riding 850-kilometers from Langley to Cranbrook in seven additional days. Keeping with previous years, any funds raised within Canada will be donated to Parkinson Society British Columbia, with all U.S. based funds going back to the Davis Phinney Foundation.